[03/06/07 - 12:08 PM]The A&E Network Real-Life Series Driving Force Returns for a Second Season on Tuesday, March 27, 2007This season focuses on John's pursuit of an unprecedented 15th NHRA Championship, as well as Ashley Force's long awaited move up in ranks to compete with and against her father in the Funny Car division.

[via press release from A&E]

THE A&E NETWORK REAL-LIFE SERIES DRIVING FORCE RETURNS FOR A SECOND SEASON ON TUESDAY, MARCH 27,2007

NEW SEASON FOCUSES ON JOHN FORCE�S PURSUIT OF AN UNPRECEDENTED 15TH NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP AS WELL AS ASHLEY FORCE�S HEADLINES-MAKING ANNOUNCEMENT AS FIRST FEMALE IN FUNNY CAR COMPETITION SINCE 2000

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, MARCH 6, 2007 � Get set for more heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat action! DRIVING FORCE, A&E�s high-velocity real-life series starring racing legend John Force, his wife Laurie, and their three beautiful drag racing daughters, returns for a second season of high stakes drama on Tuesday, March 27 at 10:00pm EST/PST.

A dominant figure in drag racing for both his winning reputation and charismatic personality, John Force has shattered every major record on the drag strip, exhibited extraordinary skill as a team owner and businessman and is now gearing up for his greatest challenge � raising three daughters, Ashley, 24; Brittany, 20; and Courtney, 18; who are following in his footsteps and competing in the male-dominated field of high-speed drag racing.

The July 17, 2006 series premiere of DRIVING FORCE attracted 1.2 million A18-49 and 1.1 million A25-54 viewers, making it at the time the best series premiere performance on A&E since Dog the Bounty Hunter.

In the first season we watched as John, whose career kept him on the road throughout most of the girls� childhoods, worked at rekindling his relationship with them by bringing them into the family business.

This season focuses on John�s pursuit of an unprecedented 15th NHRA Championship, as well as Ashley Force�s long awaited move up in ranks to compete with and against her father in the Funny Car division.

The Forces made headlines last month when it was announced that second oldest daughter, Ashley, would move up in classification this season to drive a fourth Ford Mustang Funny Car for John Force Racing, Inc, Castrol and Automobile Club of Southern California.

� There are four different professional categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle) in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).

� With Ashley�s addition to the Funny Car ranks there are now women competing simultaneously in all four professional categories for the first time in NHRA history.

� Ashley is the first woman to compete in the Funny Car division since Cristen Powell in 2000.

� A woman has never reached the final round in the Funny Car division. Ashley is expected to achieve this feat in 2007.

� A woman has never finished in the top 10 in points in the Funny Car division. Ashley is expected to finish in the top 10 this season.

� Ashley and John Force would be the first ever father � daughter match in the history of the NHRA if and when they meet in eliminations.

Many experts and pundits believe that Ashley�s move to the Funny Car division will have a profound impact on the sport of drag racing and will be the biggest story in the NHRA�s 50 year history. A&E�s cameras are there to capture it all as the drama and excitement surrounding drag racing�s premier family unfolds on the new season of DRIVING FORCE.

Robert Sharenow and Elaine Frontain Bryant are the A&E Executive Producers. DRIVING FORCE is produced for A&E Network by Schmaguuli LLC. Stephen Hopkins, David Schermerhorn, Brent Travers and Dan Partland are the executive producers

Now reaching more than 92 million homes, A&E Network offers a diverse mix of high quality entertainment; ranging from the network�s signature Real-Life Series franchise, including the hit series �Dog the Bounty Hunter,� �Intervention,� �Gene Simmons Family Jewels,� �King of Cars� and �Criss Angel Mindfreak,� to critically acclaimed original movies, dramatic series and the most successful justice shows on cable. A&E is the official basic cable home to the high-profile series �The Sopranos,� �CSI: Miami� and �24.� The A&E Network website is located at www.aetv.com. The A&E Insider is located at www.aetv.com/insider. For more information and photography please visit us on the web at www.aetvpress.com